Device for holding writing-paper



J (No Model.)

I P. E. DE MILL, Jr.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING WRITING PAPER.

Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

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7 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER E. DE MILL, JR., OF DETROIT, 'MICHIGAN,

DEVICE FOR HOLDING WRITING- PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,291, dated October 27,1885.

Application filed May 20, 1885. Serial No. 166,184. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER E. DE MILL, Jr., of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Holding \Vriting- Paper, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a device for'holding blocks of paper, and will be hereinafter fully pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines a; .70 and y 3 Fig. 2.

A represents a board or desk-top, which may be of any desired size just large enough to hold the paper, or large enough to afford working space outside of the paper. In board A, I cut a hole a trifle larger than the paper to be used, and on each side of this hole (not at the top and bottom) I secure a flange, preferably made of thin metal, F, extendinga short distance over the hole. Usually I make these flanges somewhat shorter than the hole, as shown in Fig. 2, and prefer this mode of con struction. I secure these flanges to the board by bending the metal down through the sides of the hole, turning a flange, I, and tacking this flange to the bottom of the board; but the flanges F may be secured by being tacked directly to the top of the board A.

B B represent guides secured to the edges of the hole through board A, and depending below said board. I generally employ four of these guides.

- D represents a piece of board adapted to fitloosely in the hole in board A.

E represents a block of paper resting on board D, and with said board D pressed up against the flanges F by springs 0, one end of each of which is secured to the under side of board A. Four of these springs are shown in the drawings; but less may be used, if desired.

G represents a thumb-hole out in board A, at the bottom of the large hole, to facilitate taking hold of the top sheet of paper in the block.

H H represent guides similar to B B, at the bottom of the hole through board A. and may be used or not, as desired. -By depressing board D against the action of springs O a block of loose sheets of paper may be placed upon board D, and the action of springs 0 when released will press the board D upward until the upper sheet of paper comes in contact with flanges F, when the paper is held securely between board D and flanges F, and may be written upon without being otherwise held. When the top sheet has been used, by inserting the thumb at G and taking hold of said sheet with the thumb and finger the sheet can be readily withdrawn by pulling it toward hole G, so that it will slide down and out from under the flanges F. The springs now raise the board D and secure the next sheet, as before.

This invention may be used as an accessory toan ordinary desk, or it may be used in positions where it is necessary to write while one hand is employed-as. for instance, in taking memoranda of telephone-messages.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with a board having an opening formed therein, of the J shaped plates F, applied to the opposite edges thereof, the board D lying between said flanges, the springs 0, guides B, and stops H, substantially as described.

PETER E. DE MILL, JR.

Witnesses:

BETHUNE DUEFIELD, GEo. H. LOTHROP. 

